The
Capture from a Boat/Open WaterContributed
by Susan Butler, General Biologist, Sirenia Project

All of the
manatees you are tracking were captured using a boat and a very long net,
and this is called an "open-water" capture.
We use a specially designed boatand actually drive out
in open water, net a manatee, and then pull it up into the boat.
Boat captures are preferred for recapturing already tagged manatees (e.g.
for medical assessment), for capturing injured manatees, and for captures
in areas without an adjacent smooth beach for safely hauling the manatee
up on shore.

Specially
Designed Boatfor
Manatee Captures

this
boat does not have a back end (known as a "transom"), so
that it is easier to pull the manatee up on to the boat.
Credit: USGS, BRD, Sirenia Project

Take a look
at an actual open water capture on this video, and then think through
the Journaling Questions below- how would you plan and perform the capture
you see on the video? After that, you can get the full details in my full
report!

a)Preparing for the Capture:
Although this open water capture may look like it takes a short time,
can you imagine how much planning and teamwork must take place ahead of
time? Watch the video again. Think about all the people that are involved,
and the equipment and the locations. Then, ask yourselves, if you were
in charge of planning an open water capture,how would you plan it? Develop
a timeline of when you would start, who you would contact, what job responsibilities
you would assign, what experts you would need, what equipment, what permissions
you might need.

b)The Capture:
From what you've seen, try to describe exactly what steps are involved
once the boat heads out into the water. How is the net put in place? How
is the manatee pulled into the net? How is it lifted into the boat? And
what's so special about this boat that helps the capture? During a capture,
what would you look for to make sure the manatee is not harmed during
capture?

After you've
thought these things through, go to Susan Butler's full
report for the details of every step of this exciting process. Then
come back and see how you did in planning and performing the capture.